“Now if you will be quiet I will tell you a story,” said Miss Smith.

“All right,” said Tom, “but you must tell us a story about a pirate.”

“No!” cried Betty, “tell us a story about a fairy.”

“Be quiet or I will not tell you any story,” exclaimed Miss Smith.

“Please tell us a ’tory bout ’ittle baby,” pleaded baby Ruth.

“All right, the story will be about a little baby. You two older children ought to know better than to shout,” sighed Miss Smith.

“Oh dear, we never get anything now that Ruthie is old enough to let you know what she wants,” groaned Tom.

“Once upon a time,” began Miss Smith, “there was a ...”

“Pirate,” interrupted Tom.

“No, no,” said Miss Smith as she went on with the story. “Once upon a time there was a ...”

“Fairy,” interrupted Betty.

“No, a little baby,” cried Ruth.

Janet Bulkley, Form VI.